Caster.



i T I W. MAIER.

- (FASTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6,

1905. RENEWED JAN. 20, 1909. 932,038. Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

W ILLIAI HALTER, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB 0F ONE -THIRI T0 HIMSELF, ONE-THIRD TO SETH HUKOOPIANS, AND ONE-THIRD TO HENBYB; HQFFIELD, OF BUFFALQ, NEW YORK.

OASTEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

npplicationfiled Kay 6, 1906,,Ser1a1No. 269,105.

Renewed January 20, 1909. Serial vNo..9.'73,,264...

This invention relates to an improved caster for furniture and the like and particularly to the construction of the roller which consists of a core and an annular covering of felt which is forced over the core from at least one end thereof and is secured to the periphery of said core with glue or the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a roller having a soft peripheral covering which is rigidly fastened thereon, and which may be placed upon furniture located in rooms havingpolished hard wood floors to prevent injury to the floors.

The invention also relates to certain details of construction, all of which will be fully and clearly hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side view of the improved caster. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the caster. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detached side view of the roller. Fig. 4: is a detached section through the core on line a a, Fig. 11. Fig. 5 is a detached section through the core on line b b, Fig. 11. Fig. 6 is a diametrical section through the core on line 0 c, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detached edge view of the roller. Fig. 8 is a .central section on line 0! d, Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a diametrical section through the core on line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is a section through the roller online f f, Fig. 8.' Fig. 11 is .a detached edge view of one form of roller having both circumferential and transverse grooves. Fig. 12 is a detached edge view of another form of roller having both circumferential and diagonally extending grooves.

In referring to the drawings for the details of construction, like numerals designate like parts.

The caster shown in Figs. 1 and 2, consists of a shank 1, having an enlarged head 2, and a bifurcated foot 3, between the forks of which a roller is journaled on a shaft 4, and a sleeve 5, having a flanged or enlarged lowe end ten a r d ed a d sl ed p per portion 7,.which is sprung over thehea 2,

Patented Aug. 24,1909.

of the shank when the shank is inserted-in."

the sleeve. The sleeve 5, is fittedin a recess in the lower end of the leg of a chair or other suitable article in the usual manner with the flange 6, fitting against the end thereof. The roller consists of a core 8, which is preferably constructed of wood although it may be made of any other suitable material and a peripheral covering 9, of felt or the like. The core is provided with a series of peripheral grooves which serve to retain the glue or other'adhesive employed to fasten the covering 9, in place.

These grooves may extend circumferentially around the core or transversely or diagonally across the periphery thereof or a pl-urality of either of these dilferently extending grooves may be utilized, either alone by themselves or in conjunction with others. On the drawings the circumferential grooves are designated by the numeral 10, the transverse grooves by the numeral 11, and the diagonal grooves by the numeral 12.

Thecovering 9, is preferably formed in two annular halves of felt and in securing the covering in place, the grooved periphery of the core is first covered with glue and the two annular halves which are slightly smaller in their circumference than the core, are slightly stretched and forced over opposite ends of the core toward each other until their edges contact. The covered core is then placed in a compressing mechanism which entirely surrounds it and the covering is pressed firmly upon the serrated surface of the core and held in compressed position thereon until the glue is set. This operation forces portions of the felt into the serrations and into close contact with the surface of the core so that the opposed surfaces of the core and covering will be very firmly united by the glue or other adhesive employed. The object of this is to prevent the glue being forced oif the surface of the core as the felt is fitted on. This is the disadvantage of a broad one piece felt ring which as it is stretched and fitted over one end of the core and pushed on presses closely against the core surface and collects the glue on the surface of the core in front of it as it is moved laterally upon the core removing the greater portion of the glue and not leaving enough on the core surface to properly secure the felt to the core.

The chief advantages of this invention reside in the soft surfaced roller, the two part construction of the felt covering and the firm manner of securing the same to the core.

I claim as my invention.

1. In combination in a roller, a core having a series of peripheral circumferential and transverse grooves to retain glue and an annular felt covering surrounding and glued to said core.

2. In combination in a roller, a core having a series of peripheral grooves, some of which extend circumferentially around the core and others of which extend at an angle to said circumferential grooves and an annular covering of felt glued to said core.

3. In combination in a roller, a core having a plurality of peripheral grooves some of Which extend at angles to others and a plurality of annular felt rings lued side by side to and covering the perip ery of said core.

WILLIAM MAIER. Witnesses:

CECIL CLARKsoN, L. M. SANGSTER. 

